News from the Heights

Le Moyne Science Building Achieves Gold LEED Certification

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (For Immediate Release) ... Le Moyne College has been notified that its new science building has achieved gold certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) facility. LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

The 48,000-square-foot-facility, which opened in early 2012, was designed and constructed to reduce its environmental impact. Under the LEED certification scoring, facilities that exceed 60 points are Gold certified; Le Moyne’s science building earned a total of 65 points.

“Receiving Gold LEED certification is a tremendous accomplishment and one of which the College is proud,” said President Fred P. Pestello. "The construction and ongoing operation of this building reduces Le Moyne's overall environmental impact while teaching students to be conscious of their impact on the earth.”

Among the building’s most notable green features are trombe walls, which absorb heat from the sun during the day and emit that heat throughout the building at night; a live roof, which conserves heat and reduces storm water runoff; bio-swale and a storm water management system, which help reduce erosion and allow storm water to be absorbed as ground water more easily; and cabinets made from bamboo plywood, which grows much more rapidly than other types of wood. Additionally, 92 percent of the waste generated during construction was recycled, depositing far less trash in area landfills than would have been the case using a conventional building process.

LEED Certification recognizes performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental air quality. The founding chair of the USGBC is Le Moyne alum S. Richard Fedrizzi '76; he currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the organization and spoke at the building’s dedication in February 2012.

As a Jesuit institution, the College has long viewed protecting the environment as a central part of its mission. Adolfo Nicolas S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, has called upon the Jesuits around the world to be good stewards of the earth. The College has responded by introducing sustainability programs and practices across its campus. For example, Le Moyne has an environmentally themed student residence; majors in environmental science systems and environmental science are offered; and sustainable practices such as composting and buying locally grown food have been put in place through the College's dining services. The new science building is a natural extension of those efforts.

ThinkProgress.org includes Le Moyne as one of 11 institutions across the country that "...are taking concrete steps to amend their policies, expand their training programs, and let new students know they want to improve" as it relates to sexual assaults.